Fund-raiser Involves Small-scale Car Race

April 16, 1998|By SHERMAN TARR; Courant Correspondent

ENFIELD — A race of miniature Indianapolis 500 cars is being organized for June as a fund-raiser for The Arc of Greater Enfield, which hopes to use the money to send mentally retarded people to summer camp.

Fourteen sponsors have already agreed to support race entries.

``We're looking for more sponsors for what is going to be an exciting day,'' Rita McCartney, the group's executive director, said Wednesday.

The event is scheduled for June 13. Racing teams will compete in cars that are a third the size of the type of car that races in the annual Indianapolis 500.

The steel-framed, fiberglass vehicles are a little slower than the Indy cars, however. They are powered by 5-horsepower engines and can reach speeds of up to 30 mph.

Businesses or organizations may sponsor a car by paying $2,500. Of that amount, $1,100 is used to purchase the race car from Manco Products Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz.

The mini-racers will be decorated with decals advertising their sponsors, who will also receive two helmets for their driving team, insurance and a display area at the race track. Enfield Arc gets the remaining $1,400 as an entry fee.

McCartney said the money will allow the nonprofit organization to provide mentally retarded people between the ages of 4 and 22 a two- week stay at the YWCA-run Camp Ayapo in Somers. She said the camp will be a new experience for people accustomed to attending the group's 6-week Camp Shriver program, which has been run by Arc for 34 years at Nathan Hale elementary school.

The Enfield Mini Indy will feature a course that is one-fifth of a mile long and lined with tires and fencing to keep the cars and spectators apart. Racing is expected to run from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tom Argy, a former race car driver from Nevada, will run the event, which will include training to be held several weeks before the race.

``He has pointers that may help, because the race is based on skills as well as speed,'' McCartney said.

Argy said he expects several heats of 25 laps and a final race of 50 laps. The heats will provide contests within categories of similar sponsors. For instance, McCartney said, car dealers might compete against each other in one grouping.

McCartney helped organize two similar races when she worked for the YWCA of Western Massachusetts in Springfield. She took her job with Arc in September.

``The excitement and camaraderie was incredible,'' she said.``There was lots of competition.''